19th-century art form revived to make tactile science graphics for blind people

Enlarge / 3D-printed lithophanes can help optically impaired scientists “see” data, such as from protein separation gels, with their fingertips. (credit: ordan Koone/Bryan Shaw) In the 19th century, an art form known as lithophanes was all the rage in Western Europe. These thin engravings were usually made from translucent materials like porcelain or wax. When […]

Tactile soft sensor can turn anything into a controller

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a soft sensor toolkit that could pave the way for more tactile wearables. Tragically dubbed “iSoft,” the thin, rubbery device reacts to continuous movement, including touch and stretch controls. With its accompanying software platform, you can customize it to interact with everything from gamepads to televisions and phones. We’ve […]